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EVOLUTION

Core Concepts of Evolution

1. The significance of evolutionEvolution is genetic change within a population over time. Understanding
evolutionary processes and the supporting evidence is an integral part of the
molecular life sciences. It explains many present day issues, such as crop
availability and pesticide resistance in agriculture, vaccine and drug
development in medicine and regulatory mechanisms in cellular, developmental
and behavioral biology.

Associated
learning goals•
Students
should be able to describe evolution as genetic change in a population over
time. {A}• Students should be able to analyze preexisting and novel data and relate the findings in light of
evolution. {B}•Students should be able to relate evolution to concepts in
biochemistry and molecular biology. {C}

Associated learning goals• Students should be able to
explain how mechanisms of evolution cause variation within a population. {A}• Students should be able
to distinguish between random and nonrandom evolutionary processes. {B}• Students should be able to demonstrate their
understanding of the mechanisms of evolution to relevant issues, such as
antibiotic resistance, the occurrence of genetic disorders or cancer
therapeutics. {C}

3. Natural selection is a key evolutionary mechanismEvolution
by natural selection results from differential reproductive success, where
individuals with certain heritable traits are more successful. The fitness of an
individual and its genotype is directly determined by its relative reproductive
success. The fittest individuals will pass their genes to more offspring, driving
the evolution of the population. In this way, the population becomes
better-suited (adapted) to its environment. Multiple lines of evidence support evolution
by natural selection, including the fossil record, homologies and direct
observation in laboratory and field studies.

Associated
learning goals• Students should be able to
describe the process of natural selection. {A}• Students should be able
distinguish between individual fitness and adaptation of populations. {B}• Students
should be able to explain how selection of phenotypes affects genotype
transmission. {B}• Students should
be able to synthesize and evaluate supporting evidence for the theory of
natural selection. {C}

4. The molecular basis of evolutionOrganismal
traits are determined at the genetic and epigenetic level. Molecular
modifications at these levels may determine the RNA and protein expression
patterns in a cell, influencing the phenotype of the organism. Genetic
modifications can also arise from the acquisition of new genetic material via
processes such as horizontal gene transfer, endosymbiosis and viral vector
transfer. Transmission of these heritable alterations may lead to changes in
the genetic composition of a population, thereby driving evolution.

Associated
learning goals• Students should be able to
explain how cells can acquire new genetic material. {A}• Students should be able to explain
how mutations and epigenetic changes influence gene expression, structure and
function of gene products and the fitness of an organism. {B}• Using
genetic information, students should be able to categorize organisms and
establish phylogenetic relationships. {C}